PHOTOGRAPHY ( THIS SPREAD ) BY TE ’ ANA CONLEY

Not too much , not too little . In Swedish , that ’ s what the word lagom translates to , and it ’ s also the perfect description for Kristen Runvik ’ s skin and body care company , Lagom Body Co . The brand contains earth-based elements that are safe for the skin , steering clear of questionable ingredients you might find in other products .

“ Keeping it simple also makes my life simple with the formulating process because I have my favorite ingredients , too ,” Runvik says , whose product formula rarely goes above twelve ingredients . “ It ’ s not a massive list .”

Lagom Body Co . was founded in 2016 back when Runvik was working for a tech startup based in Sydney , Australia , working about sixty hours a week and feeling burnt out . Disconnected from herself and her home , she began dabbling in essential oils , started her own garden and got into the plant-scene outside of Washington in Portland , Oregon .

“ I wanted to work with my hands because I was working online so much and I needed a ritual where I can slow down and be in the moment ,” says Runvik . “ It was so important for me to get my hands dirty and reinvigorate my senses . I was working way too much and being able to work with plants grounded me and brought me back to myself .”

As the story goes , Runvik ’ s partner Jeremy was born and raised in the Ocean State , so despite her living in Washington state ( and missing the mountains ), the two moved to Warwick in 2019 to continue working and parenting their now fourteen-month-old baby .

When she got pregnant in 2021 , she was also in the process of rebranding her business , receiving plenty of support from her family and partner . However , Runvik admits that it ’ s been a challenge to balance her skin care business , part-time marketing job for another skin care and supplement company , and being a mom – all during the pandemic . It takes a lot of pressure off her and her partner ’ s shoulders knowing that they get to work from home and take care of the baby at the same time .

“ There ’ s a lot of juggling which any parent

“ Keeping it simple also makes my life simple with the formulating process , because I have my favorite ingredients , too .” — Kristen Runvik

knows — you don ’ t know how you ’ re doing it , but you ’ re making it happen . The business is something that I ’ m very passionate about and it ’ s fun for me too . I just have to stay focused on keeping this girl alive ,” Runvik says , referring to her brand .

Runvik wanted to read a skin care product label that made complete sense to her and didn ’ t take up the length of the entire container . Of course , long lists don ’ t always mean toxic ingredients , but as someone who went to school in Portland for herbalism and did some further studying into organic skin care formulation , she likes to “ hone in on specific ingredients that I studied ,” she says . “ I ’ d rather go deep and really understand what an ingredient does rather than just have this wide array of ingredients just because . Having a limited amount of ingredients simplifies the process for the customer .”

Besides using the infused oils and plants she grows herself , she gathers other ingredient necessities from Lucayda Farm in Cranston , including lavender and plantain . Runvik also visits farms in Vermont , focusing on elements that grow nearby to support local and regional businesses and botanicals .

Lagom ’ s products can be purchased online , at Sage and Flame inside Coventry ’ s Soul Sanctuary and at s ’ OM , the sister boutique at All That Matters Yoga and Wellness on Wakefield ’ s Main Street . On the skin care brand ’ s website , customers will see the Daily Ritual collection , filled with items sold year-round ; the Seasonal Ritual collection containing a few products only available during its designated season ( ingredients are tweaked according to the time of year ,) and the soonto-be-introduced Mama and Baby line , which will offer products formulated specifically for a mother and newborn child .

Show your skin some love with Lagom ’ s earth-based skin and body care ; try top products like the Meadow Rose Restore Cream for the face and the Sunspell Body Nectar , a multipurpose oil . lagombody . com

RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY l JANUARY 2023 79